A gang of five Bulgarians has been convicted of committing the largest benefit fraud in UK history, defrauding taxpayers of £54 million.

All five members of the gang pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering-related offenses and were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to eight years in May 2024.

Mel Stride, former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, praised the collaboration between the Crown Prosecution Service and the Department for Work and Pensions in bringing the fraudsters to justice.

The gang lavishly spent their illicit gains on luxury items, fast cars, and other extravagant lifestyles.

Following their arrests, law enforcement froze the gang's assets, including cars, jewelry, and cash.

Investigators are still working to recover the stolen funds and are collaborating with European authorities.

Prosecutors have indicated that some of the stolen benefits were used to purchase property in Bulgaria.

The gang received £2 million in legal aid for their trial, with costs potentially rising as billing is ongoing.

John O'Connell from the TaxPayers' Alliance criticized the use of taxpayer money for legal aid in this case, while the Ministry of Justice defended its necessity for fair trials.

The Ministry of Justice emphasized that legal aid is essential for ensuring fair trial representation.

Upon their release, all five members of the gang are set to be deported from the UK.

Stoyan Stoyanov, one of the gang members, will face deportation upon his release from prison.

Tsvetka Todorova, another gang member, was released early after serving 18 months and described UK prisons as 'like a vacation home.'